Royal secrets revealed: Prince George calls the Queen 'Gan-Gan'

Ten members of the Royal family have given an intimate portrait of the Queen
for a new documentary to coincide with her 90th birthday

Royal protocol dictates that the Queen should always be addressed as Your Majesty or Ma’am (to rhyme with jam). Prince George, however, has his own special name for the Head of State: Gan-Gan.

The Duchess of Cambridge revealed how her two-year-old son addresses his great-grandmother and also disclosed that the Queen leaves “little gifts” for George and his sister Princess Charlotte in their bedrooms whenever they stay with her.

The Queen feeds a carrot to her Canadian horse Elizabeth Photo: ITV

In perhaps her most candid interview to date, the Duchess joined nine other members of the Royal family who painted an intimate portrait of the Queen for the forthcoming ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety.

The Duchess of Cambridge talks to ITV for the Our Queen at 90 documentary Photo: ITV

The film-makers spent almost two years filming the two-hour programme, which shows the Queen as a family woman and a stateswoman and also picks up on the light-hearted side of royal life.

The Duke of Cambridge describes seeing people become so nervous at meeting the Queen that they faint in front of her, while the Duke of York speaks about her “intelligence network” that reports every piece of gossip to her.

The Queen, who will be 90 on April 21, allowed cameras to film everything from her weekly meeting with David Cameron to feeding carrots to her Canadian horse Elizabeth at the Royal Mews in Windsor.

At one point, as she prepares to make her entrance to a reception for 600 diplomats at Buckingham Palace, she jokes: “Do you think, if we open the door, is there anyone here?”

The Queen attending the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace November 2015 Photo: ITV

Speaking about the Queen’s relationship with the youngest members of the family, the Duchess of Cambridge said: “George is only two-and-a-half and he calls her ‘Gan-Gan.’ She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows her love for her family.”

She said of the birth of Princess Charlotte last year: “It's very special having a new little girl…I feel very, very lucky that George has got a little sister. The Queen was really thrilled that it was a little girl, and I think as soon as we came back here to Kensington Palace she was one of our first visitors here.”

The Duchess has clearly formed a close bond with the Queen, and describes how she has given her valuable guidance and support as she tries to learn the ropes of public life.

The Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen for an awayday to Leicester Photo: REUTERS/Anthony Devlin

“She's been very generous in not being forceful at all and in any of her views, but I feel she's been there, a gentle guidance really for me.

“The most memorable engagement for me was an away-day to Leicester. I went without William, so I was rather apprehensive about that. I think there is a real art to walkabouts. Everyone teases me in the family that I spend far too long chatting. So I think I've still got to learn a little bit more and to pick up a few more tips I suppose.”

The Duchess accompanied the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the trip to Leicester as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012, and the Duchess said: “She was very supportive. The fact she took the time to make sure that I was happy and looked after for that particular occasion, which probably in everything that she's doing is a very small element, it shows just how caring she is really.”

Prince William speaks to ITV for Our Queen at 90 Photo: ITV

The Duke of Cambridge described how tongue-tied people can be when they meet the Queen.

“A lot of people get very excited and sort of nervous around her,” he said. “And I've seen some very comical moments. I've seen people literally faint in front of her.

"It's quite a startling moment as to what to do when you faint in front of the Queen. There's a lot of trembling knees and people can't talk sometimes. It's quite difficult talking to people when they can’t talk. You don't get very far; I don't get past the hellos.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attending the Diplomatic Reception hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace November 2015 Photo: ITV

He said: “Growing up, having this figurehead, having this stability above me has been incredible. I have been able to explore, understand, slightly carve my own path. I greatly appreciate and value that protection.”

Prince Harry, who arrives in Nepal today to represent the Queen on a tour of the country, joked: “I have been asking her for years what her secret is, but she won’t tell me.”

He referred to the Queen’s 21st birthday radio broadcast in 1947, in which she pledged “my whole life, whether it be long or short” to her people, saying: “It’s just incredible to know that someone at that age appreciated and understood exactly what was expected of them and to basically put duty ahead of everything else so early on in her life is quite remarkable.”

The Queen rides her pony, Emma, at Windsor with Terry Pendry, Manager, Royal Mews. Photo: ITV

The Queen is never happier than when she is at Balmoral, described by Princess Eugenie as “the most beautiful place on Earth”.

The Duke of York’s younger daughter said: “I think she really, really loves the Highlands…walks, picnics, dogs, a lot of dogs, there's always dogs, and people coming in and out all the time. Family-wise we're all there, so it's a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa to be - for us to come and see them up there where you just have room to breathe and run.”

The Duke of York said the Queen also makes sure she is always up to date on what is going on in the community around Balmoral, where many of the locals are old friends.

Princess Eugenie being interviewed for the documenary Photo: ITV

He said: “Her intelligence network of who’s done what, what’s happened, who’s ill, who’s died, who’s had a birth, is extraordinary. How she finds out is a mystery.”

The Prince of Wales summed up his mother with the word “steadfast” and smiled as he said: “says: “I said to my mother the other day, do you realise that when you reach 90 I shall have known you for 68 years? She had to laugh a little bit.”

Our Queen at Ninety will be shown on ITV1 on Easter Sunday, March 27 at 8pm.